Every parliamentary written question tabled by Laurence Turner this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 81–100 of 356 · this parliament
Whether retired former employees of British Rail will retain travel privileges following the creation of Great British Railways.
The Government understands the importance of travel concessions for retired former British Rail employees and there are no plans to change these arrangements under Great British Railways.
What recent progress has been made on maintenance works at Glenart Castle Mess in Longbridge, Birmingham.
Glenart Castle Mess closed in July 2025 to allow for an upgrade to the water system infrastructure in the building. The maintenance works have progressed well and are on schedule, with 90% of works being complete. The mess is planned to reopen on 11 November 2025 back to its original use.
When his Department plans to respond to the consultation on the implementation of the new subscription contracts regime.
The government is committed to protecting consumers who enter subscription contracts. Chapter 2, Part 4 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 sets out a new regime for subscriptions contracts. Secondary legislation is required to implement it and the government ran a 12-week consultation on regulatory proposals (Consultation on the implementation of the new subscription contracts regime - GOV.UK). We are analysing the responses and carefully considering the points raised. A government response will be published in due course.
With reference to paragraph 2.18 of the National Audit Office report entitled High Speed Two: A progress update, published on 24 January 2020, whether HS2 Limited has updated its indicative estimate that the cost of undertakings and assurances was £1.2 billion; and in which year's prices was that estimate.
HS2 Ltd has not updated this figure. The estimate was provided to the National Audit Office in late 2019 – at that time, HS2 Ltd’s cost estimates were in 2015 prices.
What the cost of a single anytime (a) first and (b) standard class rail ticket between Durham and Basildon was in April (i) 2010 and (ii) 2024.
The single anytime fares from Durham to Basildon are as follows:First ClassApril 2010- £201.50April 2024- £334.00Standard ClassApril 2010- £140.00April 2024- £214.90 The regulated fare for many LNER routes switched from the Super Off-Peak return to the Super Off-Peak single in 2023 due to single leg pricing. The cost of the Super Off-Peak fare are as follows:April 2010- £109.90April 2024- £94.80
With reference to page 4 of his Department's publication entitled Hydrogen Allocation Round 2 (HAR2): due diligence and cost assurance, published on 7 April 2025, when his Department plans to hold that Meet the Supplier event.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is looking at ways to improve the visibility of supply chains for developers and suppliers, including through a Meet the Specifier event, where developers can meet with potential suppliers prior to procurement. As part of the HAR2 process, we will be engaging with HAR2 shortlisted project representatives with a view to holding this event as soon as projects are in a position to share their technical specifications with potential supply chain companies. We expect to announce successful HAR2 projects in the first half of 2026.
What steps he is taking to increase the level of hydrogen and fuel cell technology exports.
As a frontier sector in the Industrial Strategy, the government has committed targeted support to boost exports of hydrogen technologies by showcasing UK capabilities through our global network, greater access to international supply chains and — as outlined in the new Trade Strategy — by expanding clean energy sector agreements, like the UK-Germany Hydrogen Partnership. To support these opportunities, UKEF aims to deliver £10bn in clean growth financing by 2029, DRIVE35 will provide £2.5bn for zero-emission vehicle manufacturing including fuel cells, and the Aerospace Technology Institute Programme offers grants to UK fuel cell manufacturers investing in UK-based research and development.
With reference to Q12 of the oral evidence given by Alan Over to the Transport Select Committee on 9 July 2025, HC 1139, when her Department intends to write to the Transport Committee with the information referenced in the answer to that question.
The Rail Minister sent a letter on 10 September 2025 providing further information regarding Q12 of the Transport Select Committee’s oral evidence session of 9 July 2025.
Pursuant to the Answer of 03 September 2025 to Question 73617, on Armed Forces: Special Educational Needs, if he will publish the February 2025 MODLAP advisory note that is referred to in that Answer.
With reference to my previous response to Question 73617, dated 3 September 2025, concerning Special Educational Needs (SEND) and the MOD Local Authority Partnership (MODLAP), please find attached the February 2025 MODLAP advisory note.
What discussions her Department has held with railway trade unions on transfers of employment to DfT Operator Limited.
The Department and DFT Operator have regular discussions with trade unions on a range of topics, including the transfer of currently franchised rail passenger services into public ownership. As services are transferred into public ownership, staff employed by the privately-owned operator transfer to the public sector operator in accordance with Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) regulations. Rail trade unions are intrinsically involved in this process.
Pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2025 to Question 31168 on Primodos: Research and with reference to the oral contribution of Mr Roland Moyle on 26 May 1978, HC official record Volume 950, whether (a) the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency and (b) Commission on Human Medicines considered the findings of the Committee on Safety of Medicines study that began in 1969 as part of the recent review that is referred to in that Answer.
The review referenced in Question 31168 considered the 2023 publication by Danielsson et al only. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s (MHRA) assessment of this publication focussed on new data, which concerned transient embryonic hypoxia and teratogenicity in relation to oral hormone pregnancy tests (HPTs), and has been published at the following link:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68b0696bf31f3b16cee0e937/Evaluation_of_review_of_transient_embryonic_hypoxia_and_teratogenicity_in_relation_to_oral_hormone_pregnancy_tests__including_Primodos.pdfThis MHRA assessment was considered by the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM) in November 2024. A copy of the minutes of this CHM meeting is attached.The study referenced by Mr Roland Moyle on 26 May 1978 is titled Maternal drug histories and congenital anomalies, and is authored by Greenberg G, Inman WHW, Weatherall, JAC et al. This was published in the British Medical Journal in October 1977, and is available at the following link:https://www.bmj.com/content/2/6091/853.abstractThe original Expert Working Group (EWG) convened by the United Kingdom’s CHM to review all available evidence on the possible association between HPTs and adverse outcomes in pregnancy considered the study by Greenberg G referenced above as part of their review.The EWG reported its findings in November 2017 and concluded that the totality of the available scientific data does not support a causal association between the use of HPTs during early pregnancy and adverse pregnancy outcomes. The EWG report on the use of HPTs and adverse effects relating to pregnancy, including possible birth defects, is published online, at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/report-of-the-commission-on-human-medicines-expert-working-group-on-hormone-pregnancy-testsThe MHRA remains committed to reviewing any new scientific data which becomes available following the conclusion of the EWG.
What (a) published and (b) unpublished research her Department has considered as part of its preparation for establishing the School Support Staff Negotiating Body; and what the titles are of each piece of research.
This government values and recognises the professionalism of the entire school workforce, which is why the School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB) is being established through the Employment Rights Bill.To inform the establishment and operation of the SSSNB, the department has commissioned new and detailed research into the role and value of school support staff. The research was conducted by Ipsos and findings are expected to be published by around late 2025 and early 2026. The government also included a call for evidence on pay and conditions for school support staff as part of its consultation on setting up the SSSNB, which closed on 18 July, with findings expected to be published in the autumn.Beyond this, departmental officials regularly review published research and evidence on school support staff, including statistical publications such as the School Workforce Census, survey data, and the Education Endowment Foundation’s publications on teaching assistants.
What discussions her Department has held with the (a) Welsh and (b) Scottish governments on the potential impact of the establishment of School Support Staff Negotiating Body on (i) recruitment and (ii) retention in border areas.
Education is a devolved matter, and the application of the School Support Staff Negotiating Body provisions in the Employment Rights Bill is therefore for state-funded schools in England only.
Pursuant to the Answer of 15 July 2025 to Question 65451 on the School Support Staff Negotiating Body, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of establishing the body in shadow form ahead of the introduction of secondary legislation.
We anticipate the School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB) will be operational from April 2026. In advance of this, departmental officials have established a regular working group with recognised trade unions representing school support staff and employer representative organisations to provide a forum for stakeholders to give views on the design of the body. We also engage with wider stakeholders who can share knowledge and expertise on the school support staff sector.It would not be appropriate to establish a more formal shadow SSSNB before we have confirmed which staff are in scope of the SSSNB. We have consulted on this matter and expect to publish findings in the autumn. There is also a duty for my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education to consult the Trades Union Congress before appointing employee representatives. It is important that we work closely with stakeholders but that we do not pre-empt the findings from these consultations.
What steps he is taking to increase the number of Accident and Emergency intake staff.
The 10-Year Workforce Plan, which will be published later this year, will ensure the NHS has the right people, in the right places, including in vital services such as Accident and Emergency, with the right skills to care for patients when they need it.
With reference to NHS England’s publication entitled Interim commissioning guidance: Implementation of the NICE Technology Appraisal TA1026 and the NICE funding variation for tirzepatide (Mounjaro) for the management of obesity, published on 27 March 2025, what estimate (a) NHS England and (b) the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence have made of the number of patients eligible for Mounjaro in each year from 2025-26 to 2027-28.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body responsible for developing evidence-based guidance for the National Health Service on the use of licensed medicines based on an assessment of their clinical and cost-effectiveness. NICE published the estimated total eligible population for tirzepatide for obesity (Mounjaro) in its technology appraisal, with the code TA 1026, which is available at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta1026The following table shows the estimated total eligible population for tirzepatide for obesity, from 2025/26 to 2028/29:YearPopulationCurrent year (2025/26)3,600,000Year 1 (2026/27)3,640,000Year 2 (2027/28)3,670,000Year 3 (2028/29)3,700,000 The figures are based on the population estimated to have an initial body mass index (BMI) of at least 35, and with at least one weight-related comorbidity. They include the impact of the predicted population growth, but they do not include potential increases in obesity prevalence, or include the 2.5 BMI unit reduction that is recommended for people from certain ethnic minority backgrounds. From 23 June, tirzepatide has started to become available in primary care, meaning it can be prescribed by general practitioners, or other competent prescribers. NHS England’s phased rollout within primary care will prioritise those with the greatest clinical need. The NHS is undertaking a phased roll out, as agreed with NICE. This is based on prioritisation led by clinical need. Patient eligibility will increase in stages, up to approximately 220,000 patients after the first three years, as outlined in NHS England's Interim Commissioning Guidance, which is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/interim-commissioning-guidance-implementation-of-the-nice-technology-appraisal-ta1026-and-the-nice-funding-variation-for-tirzepatide-mounjaro-for-the-management-of-obesity/The total eligible population should have access within the maximum period of 12 years but, as part of the rollout plans, the NHS will look at different service models, including digital and community options. New approaches might enable access to be expanded more quickly. Progress will be reviewed in three years. In addition, the 10-Year Health Plan sets out our ambition to build on these plans by testing innovative models of delivering weight loss services and treatments to patients. On 12 August we announced an £85 million competition to fund the design and delivery of new community and primary care weight management pathways to support access to interventions such as weight loss medications. We expect tens of thousands of patients to directly benefit from increased access to interventions, such as GLP-1s. This will generate new evidence to inform the future commissioning and rollout of tirzepatide.
Communities and Local Government, how many approvals for the disposal of allotments were made under section 8 of the Allotments Act 1925 between 7 May 2010 and 4 July 2024; and what the (a) location and (b) reference number of each disposal was.
Between July 2018 and 4 July 2024 the sitting Secretary of State approved 58 allotment disposals. The location, town, reference number where available and date of disposal are listed in the table below. Due to a change in case management systems, records for the number of allotment disposals do not go back further than July 2018.LocationTownReferenceDateDene Park AllotmentsHexhamN/A13/06/2024Land North of Courteenhall RoadBilsworthNA12/04/2024Redbridge Lane West AllotmentsLondonRedbridge Lane West Allotments02/01/2024Central Avenue AllotmentsKirby in AshfieldW300503/08/2023Leadgate Bradley Bungalows Allotment Site. Adjacent to 50Bradley Bungalows, ConsettLeadgate Bradley Bungalows28/06/2023Land at Saltings AllotmentsGrimsbyB200207/06/2023Castlefield AllotmentsDartfordN/A24/03/2023Windmill Lane Allotment Site,GreenfordLegal/RK/0068486502/02/2023Milner Royd AllotmentsSowerby BridgeSP/100921702/02/2023Bellfield AllotmentsGuildford12401253.1/674661.0202208/11/2022Tursdale Allotment siteCassop-cum-QuarringtonN/A23/09/2022Grazing Land at Beech AllotmentsGrayshottN/A16/08/2022Land at Cliff RoadWakefieldxxxxxx03/08/2022The AllotmentsColchesterN/A06/07/2022Bulbourne RoadTringN/A04/07/2022Land fronting Bowes Road AllotmentsEnfieldQ5300030/06/2022Land at Beever RoadTiptonN/A23/05/2022Jerome AllotmentsActonN/A18/05/2022Bellfields AllotmentsGuilldfordN/K10/02/2022Furge Lane FieldHenstridgeHenstridge19/11/2021Melbourne Park AllotmentsChelmsfordN/A25/08/2021Wesley Street AlotmentsKirkby-in-AshfieldN/K08/07/2021Middleton AllotmentsMilton KeynesN/A08/06/2021Part of Silver Acre Allotments, off Scott Road, Kettering NN16 9NSKetteringn/a17/02/2021Harcourt Road AllotmentsMiddlesbroughN/K16/02/2021Brandon Road and Wilton RoadFeltwelln/a20/08/2020Club TerracePontefractUnknown09/07/2020Newland RoadBristolN/A08/06/2020Wolf Field Allotments,Norwoodn/a02/06/2020Bushey CroftHarlowN/K26/05/2020Stones Road Allotment SiteEpsomN/A06/05/2020Bulborne AllotmentsTringTBC26/03/2020Lillands AvenueBrighouseN/A23/03/2020Hamm Moor AllotmentsAddlestoneNA18/03/2020Beechwood AllotmentsMiddlesbroughN/A09/03/2020Redfield Hill AllotmemntsBristoln/a05/03/2020Lockleaze AllotmentsBristolN/K08/01/2020Coneybeare Allotment SiteAshfordN/A07/10/2019White Hart Allotment SiteSwindonTBC03/10/2019Portobello/Grove AllotmentsKingston- Upon_HullHS34332805/09/2019Meadway AllotmentsDunstablexxxxx/xxxx/xcxx03/09/2019Lampits AllotmentsHoddesdonLampits Allotments15/08/2019Eldon Road AllotmentsRotherhamn/a20/05/2019Grammar School Road AllotmentsBriggN/A07/05/2019Farnham Road AllotmentsBishops StortfordN/A27/03/2019Fleet Meadow,OxfordshireDidcotC Wayman14/03/2019Merry Hill Allotment, SmethwickBirminghamn/a14/03/2019Redesdale PlaceMoreton-in-MarshN/A05/03/2019Silverdale AllotmentsDinnington St JohnN/A26/02/2019Bardney AllotmentsLincolnN/A14/02/2019Spaxton allotment fieldSpaxtonn/a25/01/2019Acton Allotment, Hanbury RoadEalingP/2012/070821/01/2019Land off East Anglian Way / Land on the west side of Church RoadGorlestonEE/EE-GYBC/3871412/12/2018Marlpool AllotmentsHeanorN/A30/11/2018Leys Allotment SiteHigh Peakn/a26/11/2018Schofield StreetMexboroughN/A15/11/2018Butt FieldGoggeshallN/A24/10/2018Ilchester CrescentBristolN/A02/08/2018
Pursuant to the Answer of 18 July 2024 to Question 763, on Special Educational Needs: Tribunals, if she will update the table given in that Answer for the most recent year for which figures are available.
Information about appeals to the First-tier Tribunal for Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) is published at: www.gov.uk/government/collections/tribunals-statistics.The table below sets out the number of appeals to the SEND Tribunal against decisions made by Birmingham City Council for the academic years 2021 to 2023 (the latest period for which data are available); and the numbers of those appeals that were (i) determined in favour of the appellants, (ii) determined in favour of the local authority, (iii) withdrawn, (iv) conceded before the hearing, and (v) still awaiting a hearing.Appellants would include appeals made by parents and young persons.Academic yearTotal appeals registered(1)Total appeals determined in favour of the appellantsTotal appeals determined in favour of the local authorityTotal appeals withdrawnConceded before the hearingAwaiting a hearing date (4)2021(2)54736731488912022525365105284122023(3)642410224614418 1. Appeals registered and appeals concluded will not tally due to spanning over academic years.2. Appeal data are only available for three years due to the Tribunal’s record retention and disposal policy.3. The latest period for which data have been published.4. This figure includes appeals with a consent order or a hearing has been vacated awaiting a new hearing date.
What steps his Department is taking to help support service personnel to obtain education, health and care plans for dependent children.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) established, operates and chairs the MOD Local Authority Partnership (MODLAP) principally consisting of those Authorities with the highest numbers of Service children. MODLAP has developed a number of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) related initiatives, which include the SEND Principles. These focus on supporting Service children that require provisions typically contained within Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). In recognition of the unique circumstances of Service children, the SEND Principles enhance provisions already contained within the SEND Code of Practice. These Principles also include measures to ease the conversion of MOD issued Service Children’s Assessment of Needs (SCAN) documentation (MOD equivalent of EHCPs) to EHCPs, following Service children’s return to England after attendance at MOD schools overseas. In addition, in February of this year, MODLAP issued an advisory note to every Director of Children’s Services in England. This provided advice to Local Authorities and schools in regard to how SEND services may meet the unique needs of Service children with SEND, in keeping with their Armed Forces Covenant statutory duties. The MOD also provides Service Personnel with access to SEND information, advice and guidance via its Education Advisory Team, based within Defence Children’s Services. This team is staffed with specialists who are qualified teachers and include backgrounds within SEND services and as school SEN Coordinators. This support, combined with their intimate knowledge of Service-related challenges, means our Service Personnel receive an expert support package. Alongside ongoing Grant in Aid funding provided to the Armed Forces Families Federations, the MOD also delivers grant programmes focused on education issues, including a specific funding theme for SEND. Over the course of the last two funding cycles, the MOD has provided over £2M in SEND grants to Local Authorities and schools to deliver projects and activities that provide added value to support Service children’s SEND needs.
Pursuant to the Answer of 22 February 2022 to Question HL 6355 on History: Publications, what recent progress has been made on the publication of Volume 2 of the Official History of the Joint Intelligence Committee.
The Official History of the Joint Intelligence Committee will be published in due course.